Carolina Girls...best in the world!

9 months since my last post...and lots have changed in my life!!!

• I adopted two cats in October 2012!  They are brother/sister, black tuxedo like cats and they are my babies!
• I moved back to North Carolina in May 2013.  
• I will officially be in my last year of the FNP program in August!  (Never thought this day would come!).

I guess not a lot of things number wise....but major life changes (job, state, animals)!

September already?

It's September...and I'm seeing many signs of Fall, except the warm sticky humid DC weather!

(No leaves haven't changed yet...but I love the picture!)

Starbucks rolled out their Fall drink collection this  week- Pumpkin Spice Latte and the Salted Caramel Mocha.  

(A tall pumpkin spice latte (Skim no whip) rolls in at 260 calories, 0 gm fat, and 37 gm sugar)...Mocha (skin no whip) 220 cal, 2 gm fat, 40 gm sugar).  Crazy!  

Fall clothes are in the store...which defiantly makes me want to shop!  

My supermarket has pumpkins out!  Don't they think these are going to rot by October 31?  

When I need a break from studying I usually browse Pinterest...I found this lovely Halloween wreath!  Maybe I'll budget time in my crazy schedule to make it!

Soon, I'll be making Chili and cornbread, soups in the crockpot, Chicken & Dumplings, and yummy fall desserts!  Check out this apple tart below!

Ingredients

• PASTRY DOUGH
• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1/4 cup ice-cold water
• 2 tablespoons cold sour cream

• FILLING
• 5 large juicy apples, such as Fuji or Braeburn, peeled
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/3 cup apricot preserves
• 1 1/2 tablespoons plain bread crumbs
• 3 tablespoons apple jelly

Instructions

1.  First, make the dough: combine the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor, then scatter the butter pieces over the top. Pulse the machine 8 or 9 times, just until the butter is broken into fine pieces. Do not over-blend it.
2. In a measuring cup with a spout, stir together the water and sour cream. Drizzle the liquid evenly over the flour mixture. Pulse the dough for about 8 short bursts, just until large, packable crumbs form.
3.  Dust your hands with flour. Turn the crumbs onto the counter and pack the dough together as you would a snowball.
4.  Place the dough onto a large sheet of plastic wrap and flatten it into a 3/4-inch-thick disk. Wrap it in the plastic and refrigerate it for at least 1 hour
5. Get out a large, heavy cookie sheet, preferably one that's shiny and at least 14 by 16 inches in size. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit it and set the paper aside. Put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
6.  Remove the chilled dough from the fridge and place it on the parchment. Dust your rolling pin and the dough with flour as needed to prevent sticking, then roll the pastry into a circle roughly 13 1/2 inches across
7. Place the dough and parchment onto the sheet, and place the sheet back in the refrigerator. Move an oven shelf into the center position and heat the oven to 375°.
8. Make the filling: quarter and core 3 of the peeled apples. With a sharp knife, slice the apples thinly -- 1/8-inch thick or so. If a child is helping with this step, supervise her closely. Put the slices into a bowl and sprinkle them with the lemon juice. Toss the slices so they're coated and set them aside.
9. Quarter and core the remaining 2 apples. Cut them into1/4-inch-thick slices, then cut up the slices into fairly uniform 1/4-inch cubes. Place 2 1/2 cups of diced apples in a mixing bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the sugar, the cornstarch, and the cinnamon, and stir well.
10.  Put the apricot preserves in a small bowl and stir them briskly with a spoon to smooth out any lumps. Remove the dough from the refrigerator and dot it with the preserves. Use the back of a spoon to gently spread the preserves over the dough, being careful not to tear it. Sprinkle the bread crumbs evenly over the preserves.
11.  Pour the diced apples onto the center of the pastry and spread them very evenly across the surface, leaving about a 1 1.2-inch margin of dough at the edge.
12.  On top of the diced apples, arrange an overlapping row of apple slices in a circle, making sure the circle isn't as wide as the diced apples. (This way, the slices won't poke through the pastry when you fold it up.) Arrange a second circle of slices inside the first, then a third circle for the center of the blossom. Put the tart back in the fridge for 10 minutes to re-firm the pastry.
13. Remove the tart from the refrigerator and sprinkle 1 tablespoon of sugar evenly over the apples. Using the parchment to help you handle the dough, fold the dough in sections up and over the edge of the filling. The dough will form pleats naturally as you make the folds. If the dough tears, just pinch it back together.
14. Bake the tart on the center oven rack until it's golden brown and bubbly, about 45 minutes to 1 hour. At the 30-minute mark, turn the sheet 180 degrees so that the tart bakes evenly.
15.  Remove the tart from the oven. Heat the apple jelly in a microwave until it melts, about 40 seconds. Use a pastry brush to paint the top of the apples with the jelly. Cool the tart on the sheet for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Makes 12 servings.
    
    
    
    
    For now, it's study study study for me!
    
    
    
    

NYC

I know it's been awhile since I've posted...I took a rest from blogging for a bit!  Honestly, over the summer, I was preoccupied with summer classes and trying to adjust to a new job and new hours at work!

But, I am back and have just started fall semester of my second year with graduate school.  I am excited to be getting into the "guts" of the program!  This semester may kick my butt, but I'm excited!  In February I start my clinical, which is exciting but overwhelming at the same time.

Last weekend P and I went up to NYC for a weekend in the city.  We have both been to the city before but it was nice to get out of this city and experience NYC for a change!  We walked around....went to Top of the Rock....St. Patrick's Cathedral....Street Vendors....little pubs....etc.  It was a great time!  

For now....
Bless Your Heart!

$$ Budget $$

We all dread it...but to live, we must do it right?  I've always said I'm going to create a budget, but it's like sticking to any program....diet....exercise...I fall off the bandwagon!

I decided today was the day I was going to get down to business with this budget and went into full force!!!

Calculator
Paystub
An assortment of highlighters
Printout of last months spendings from online banking
A book I bought from Barnes and Noble- The Finish Rich Workbook- David Bach
(ISBN 0767904818)- it's really good if you're interested!!!

I hope that if you're in the need of a budget you will check out his book as well!  Maybe we can all get on track together!  No longer am I going to "wing it" ....this girl is getting on a budget!

Apartment!

I found a roommate last week and an apartment this week!!!

Whoo-hooo!!!

Talk about a huge relief! I was getting very frustrated with this whole process...talk to anyone who knows me, I have been pretty stressed and short tempered when it comes to apartment hunting lately!

The Roommate:

I was very up in the air about getting a roommate...but seeing how the rent is so cotton picking high in this area, you almost have to (unless you want to be eating Ramen!). I've lived alone many years of my adult life and was uncertain I wanted to go back to the roommate style of life. Don't get me wrong, I had many good years of roommate living too! I met my roommate on Craigslist, which is scary sounding I get it! But, mind you, I put my ad on there too and I don't consider myself to be a scary person! I feel I'm pretty normal! We met up one day and hit it off! I refer to our meeting like a blind date- What do you do? What do you want to pay? Do you smoke? Do you have pets? Do you do drugs? Ok...now that we got that out of the gate....let's chat! We found out that we were quite alike! Blonde...like to cook....she likes to work out (I'm neutral on that one)...we have BF's we adore....we have jobs that pay the bills....we coupon....we are organized people....what better way to start out a roommate situation? We are on the same page with a lot of things!!!

The Apartment:

Many apartments were viewed over the past two weeks and honestly the rent is too high! How can one charge this much? Because people will pay it! Well....not me! Well....not anymore! I fell in that first category when I moved up here and I didn't know any better! I will be moving to a beautiful garden style apartment a little away from the city! It almost reminds me of NC! There are little courtyards between the buildings and a lot of trees! Better yet, it's not a high rise building! It's all been renovated and they are very nice! One of my girlfriends and her hubby actually live right down the road too!!! Plus, I got a great deal!!! BINGO!

http://pipartners.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/the-luck-of-the-irish/

Spring Break!

SPRING BREAK!!!!!

It's spring break!!! Whoo hoo! Spring break while being in graduate school has a different meaning than it did while being in undergrad. Undergrad meant- let's go somewhere! While I wasn't the girl who took some fancy, party-trip to Cancun, Miami, or insert other booze island here! I normally spent the week either with my family or somewhere else a little less low key! Balancing graduate school and a full time job takes it toll on you...so this Spring break means relax, catch up on some "ME TIME". The last thing I really wanted to do was go somewhere. What did I do? I started a new book...found a dress for a formal (pictured below)...did a craft (pictured below- don't you just love PINTEREST?!?!)...a cooked some egg fritata's that I wanted to try out (recipe below)...I've spent some time with friends and haven't thought about school! I still have work this week...but it's nice to not have the extra work of school!!!

New Book: Sex, Style and Substance ....sounds scandalous eh? So not! Check it out!

I love the pleats...it's so different!

My Easter wreath! Directions: Buy a foam circle, paper grass, and easter eggs, and ribbon. I wrapped the ribbon around the foam circle prior to gluing the grass down. In sections, place glue on wreath and pat grass down until wreath is completely covered. Next, cover with easter eggs. I put 2 eggs on the wreath.....then another on top to give it some dimension. Top with a bow!

Egg Fritata Recipe

15 eggs (for silicone muffin pans, use 12 eggs for metal muffin tins or individual silicone cups. You can use less egg yolks and more egg white if you prefer.)

1-2 cups grated low fat cheese (I like sharp cheddar or a blend of cheddar/Jack cheese, use less cheese if using meat)
Optional, but highly recommended, 3 green onions diced small.
Optional: chopped veggies such as blanched broccoli, red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, etc. (Using veggies will reduce the fat content)
Optional: diced Canadian bacon, lean ham, or crumbled cooked turkey sausage

Preheat oven to 375 F. Use regular or silicone muffin pan, 12 muffin size. If using silicone pan, spray with nonstick spray. If using regular muffin pan, put two paper liners into each slot, then spray liner with nonstick spray.

In the bottom of the muffin cups layer diced meat, if using, vegetables, if using, cheese and green onions. You want the muffin cups to be about 2/3 full, with just enough room to pour a little egg around the other ingredients. Break eggs into large measuring bowl with pour spout, add Spike, and beat well. (I used to add a bit of half and half or milk, but lately I like the way they turn out without it.) Pour egg into each muffin cup until it is 3/4 full. I like to stir slightly with a fork. Bake 25-35 minutes until muffins have risen and are slightly browned and set.

Muffins will keep more than a week in the refrigerator. Egg muffins can be frozen and reheated, but I like them best when they are just refrigerated. For best results, thaw in refrigerator before reheating. Microwave on high about 2 minutes to reheat.

Tomorrow, I meet another potential roommate as the search is still on!

I'm Alive!

Just in case anyone is wondering, I am alive...I've just been hiding under piles of homework, 12 hour shifts at the hospital, and more importantly roommate searching!

Yes- roommate searching! Roommate searching I've determined is like online dating...you think about your deal breakers and your must haves, make THE LIST, put up an ad on Craigslist, then you wait! After a few days or weeks, you get a response! Then you must figure out, are they normal- you question them and figure out, should we meet? It's a crazy thought, just like on You've got Mail- when Kathleen Kelly (Meg Ryan) freaks out when her online guy asks her to meet! After you get a few emails, then comes more emails, these start to sound sketchy....

Example 1:

SKETCHY

Regarding the room, am coming to stay for 6months

but presently on research work at Guam and will be coming for my
master degree March. I would have loved to call you but this is a
remote area calls are very hard to go through from here, so please try
and understand... Meanwhile I'll would have like to come and check at
the room before renting but am very far... but with pictures that will
make me happy.

I'll also like you to tell me more about yourself and if you have
garage or parking space cos i will have my own car come over, please
let me know the total amount for the first month rent and payment will
be done by via US Cashier's & Certified Check. So i'll need you to
provide me your full mailing information so that payment can be issued
out to you on time...

Example 2:

SKETCHY

....I speak both English and Spanish fluently ,am presently on research work at xxxxx, and almost

done with that bcos its part of my prerequisite for my masters in
Microbiology . I would have loved to call you but this is a remote
area calls is hard to go through from here and i don't want to waste
much time .Am really interested in renting from you or to be your
roomie and i do really love pets but i don't have any at the moment.I
would have loved to see it but am very far,but with pictures,I am
glad. I will also like you to tell me more about you and if you have
garage or parking space cos I will have my own car come over,pls let
me know the total payment of the place and more over I will send your
email to my dad for him to email you later bcos he is the one that
will be paying the bills but nevertheless,I will like you to send me
your
1.....Full Name to write on the check
2.....Full Physical address to post the check(P.O box never accepted)
3.....City, State and Zip Code
4.....Home Phone to contact you
5.....Cell Phone to contact you

so that my Dad will issue out the payment for the place as soon as
possible,with that you can hold on the place for me till i come. I
will be looking forward to your email soonest.

My Questions:

• Are they early risers or night owls? Light sleeper or good sleeper?
• What is their typical work or school schedule?
• What do they need to feel secure (locking windows, etc)?
• What temperature do they think is comfortable?
• Are they neat or "relaxed??
• What are their favorite/least favorite chores? How to do they like to divide up household work (chore list, just do it when they feel like it, etc.).
• Are they allergic to anything? (Examples: peanuts, perfume, milk, flowers, mold, smoke).
• Do they smoke, drink, or do any other kinds of recreational drugs?
• Do they enjoy talking or do they prefer to be quiet all the time? Do they talk about feelings or keep to themselves?
• Do they enjoy decorating, or do they not care about decorating? What decorating style do they have?
• What kind of music do they listen to and, more importantly, do they particularly enjoy listening to it when it's loud?
• How much TV do they watch? What do they watch? Are they fans of a sport team that you do not support or a sport you do not like
• Do they like to share some items like pots and dishes or do they prefer to have separate everything?
• How often do they invite friends and romantic interests over? (Are you comfortable with the crowd they hang out with?)

Wish me luck!